"This can be done by giving them (worker) equitable share of the wealth they create," he said.
Dr Rizvi was addressing a national dialogue on the "Future of Work" as the chief guest.
The event held in the city also celebrated 100 years of the ILO. It was jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the ILO.
Dr Rizvi congratulated the ILO on its 100th anniversary and said, “ILO stands prominent by serving humanity for the last century. Today not only do we celebrate what ILO has done but what the organization will do in future."
The national dialogue brought together high-level government officials and representatives from workers’ and employers’ organisations to examine the present conditions of work and employment in Bangladesh, and also to seek solutions for future challenges.
Policy recommendations on the alignment of national legislations with international labour standard, revitalisation of tripartite consultation and social dialogue, eradication of child labour and forced labour, and investment in skills development came out of the national dialogue.
The event was chaired by Begum MonnujanSufian, MP, State Minister of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, according to ILO.
Foreign Secretary MdShahidulHaque, Labour Secretary KM Ali Azam; Secretary of the Ministry of Law Naren Das; Executive Chairman of National Skills Development Authority MdFaruqueHossain; Additional Secretary of Technical and Madrasah Education Division (TMED) AKM ZakirHossainBhuiyan; Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Dr Ahmed MunirusSaleheen; Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), ShibNath Roy; Director General of the Department of Labour (DoL) AKM MizanurRahman; President of Bangladesh JatiyaSramik League (BJSL) FazlulHaqueMontu; Chairperson of National Coordination Committee for Workers Education (NCCWE), Md Anwar Hossain; Member Secretary of NCCWE, DrWazedul Islam khan; General Secretary of JatioSramikJote Bangladesh, NaimulAhsan Jewel; President of Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF), Kamran T. Rahman; Secretary General of BEF, Farooq Ahmed; Committee Member of BEF, Tahmid Ahmed; Deputy Regional Director of ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, PanuddaBoonpala; and Country Director of ILO Bangladesh TuomoPoutiainen were present.
Begum MonnujanSufian spoke about the reform in the labour administration to improve safety, welfare and access to justice for workers.
She said, “I would like to acknowledge the support of the ILO in our journey since 1972. There is increasing use of automation, artificial intelligence and robotics in enterprises. To address the challenges that may rise from these technological changes, harmonious cooperation between workers and employers is important.”
Labour Secretary Ali Azam said the ILO brings tripartite representatives of the government, workers and employers to promote social justice and decent work. "Effective functioning of this tripartite cooperation is essential for achieving equality and sustainability.”
Speaking as special guest, Panudda Boonpala thanked the government of Bangladesh, workers and employers organisations, as well as development partners for working towards decent work in the country.
She said, “We hope that Bangladesh will ratify Convention 138 on the Minimum Age for working and Convention 29 on Forced Labour, and by doing so this nation will complete the ratification of all core labour standards of the ILO.”
Labour leader Fazlul Haque Montu acknowledged ILO’s work in ensuring occupational safety and health, workers’ welfare and skills development.
Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque wrapped up the programme underscoring the important policy recommendations proposed by the distinguished speakers.
In January 2019, an independent report titled, Global Commission on the Future of Work report was published by the ILO.
The report called for a “human- centred agenda” for the future of work through increased investment in people’s capabilities, strengthening the institutions of work and advancing decent and sustainable work.
These recommendations were reiterated at the National Dialogue on the Future of Work.